Display case for wrist watches and the like



Oct. 29, 1946. w, HELBEIN 2,410,161

E FOR WRIST WATCHES AND THE LIKE DISPLAY GAS Filed oct. e. 1944 PatentedOct. 29, 1946 DISPLAY CASE FOR WRIST WATCHES AND THE LIKE Williamnelbein, New York, N. Y. Application October 6, 1944, Serial No. 557,496

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a display casefor wrist watches and the like.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a new and improved displaycase which is characterized by a member about which a wrist watch andband may be mounted. It is proposed that this member be provided withoutwardly extending flanges at its end portions extending outwards ofsaid wrist watch and band. It is furthermore contemplated to provideshell-like end covers slidably mounted on said flanges, and when movedtogether to encase said Wrist watch and band, and when moved apart tofreely expose saidl watch and band.

It is proposed that said member and end covers be constructed ofthermo-plastic material, preferably transparent in nature, in whichevent it is possible to view the watch within the closed display case.

In the particular form of the invention disclosed, the member and theshell-like end covers are of triangular shapes.

The invention also proposes an arrangement for preventing the end coversfrom coming off said member While in their open positions.

Still further the invention contemplates a modiiication in which theprior mentioned member is provided with a leaf spring for better facilitating receiving watches and bands. of various sizes.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device asmentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured andsold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display case for wrist watchesconstructed in accordance with this invention, and shown in a closedposition.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the display case shown in Fig. 1 in anopen position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 4--4 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a display case for wrist watchesconstructed in accordance 2. with a modified form of this invention andshown in an open condition.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

The display case for wrist watches, in accordance with that form of theinvention disclosed in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, includes a member Il) aboutwhich a Wrist watch and band may be mounted. Said member I0 is providedwith outwardly directed fianges I I at its end portions for extendingoutwards of the wrist watch and band. These flanges II are provided withedge portions I2.

Shell-like end covers I3 are slidably mounted on.

the flanges II and on edge portions I2 thereof. When these shell-likecovers I3 are moved together so that their inner edges contact with eachother, as illustrated in Fig. 1, they will encase the wrist watch andband which is mounted about the member IIJ. When they are moved apart tothe positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the wrist watch and bandupon the member I0 will be freely exposed.

It is proposed that the member I 0 and the shell-like end covers I3 beconstructed of thermoplastic material. Preferably, this material shouldbe of a transparent nature so that the wrist watch and band may be seenand viewed through the closed display case. The closed display case willprotect the article from dust and dirt, while at the same time it isbeing displayed. In the particular design of the display caseillustrated on the drawing, the member III is of triangular shape intransverse cross section. The shell-like end covers are similarlyshaped.

In order to reduce the mass of the display case, the member I Il ishollow and is provided with end walls I4 which have openings I5. At thecenter, the member I0 is provided with an external groove I6 tofacilitate mounting a wrist watch and band on the member in a manner sothat it does not shift laterally.

Thev inner corners of the shell-like end covers I3 are formed withlongitudinally extending ribs I1 which are in the nature of trackelements. These ribs or track elements engage complementary recesses orgrooves I8 formed in the flanges I I and in the edge portions I2thereof. 'I'hese interengaging tracks and grooves facilitate the slidingof the end covers I3 upon the flanges II and on the edge portions I2thereof. The covers I3 are prevented from coming completely off themember I0 by stop pins I9 or other projections on the end coversabutting the flanges II in the extended positions of the end covers.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form of the inven..

tion has been disclosed which is very similar to the prior form,distinguishing merely in the fact that the member I' about which thewrist watch and band is intended to be mounted is of a much smaller sizethan in the prior form of the invention. However, the member ID isprovided with an encircling leaf spring 2|. This leaf spring 2| has abottom central section 22 which is attached by fastening elements 23 tothe bottom of the member I0'. The arms of the leaf spring 2| extendupwards and normally assume a slightly open position as illustrated inFigs. 5 and 6. When a wrist watch and band is displayed in this way itis mounted around the leaf spring 2| which may be pressed closed to anydegree needed for mounting the wrist watch and band within the displaycase.

In other respects, this form of the invention is identical to theprevious form and like parts are identified by like reference numerals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A display case for wrist watches, comprising a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shell-like end covers slidably mounted on said flanges andwhen moved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band.

2. A display case for wrist watches, comprising a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shell-like end covers slidably mounted on said flanges andwhen moved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, said member and end covers being ofthermo-plastic material at least said end covers being transparent.

3. A display case for wrist watches, comprising a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shell-like end covers slidably mounted on said flanges andwhen moved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, said memberand end covers being oftransparent thermo-plastic material.

4. A display case for wrist watches. comprising a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shell-like end covers slidably mounted on said flanges andwhen moved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, said member and end covers being oftriangular shapes in transverse cross section.

5. A display case for wrist watches, comprislng a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shelllike end covers slidably mounted on said flanges and whenmoved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, said member and end covers being oftriangular shapes in transverse cross section, and ribs or tracksprojecting from said end covers and engaging complementary grooves insaid member for facilitating the sliding of the end covers.

6. A display case for wrist watches, comprising a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shell-like end covers slidably mounted on said flanges andwhen moved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, said member and end covers being oftriangular shapes in transverse cross section, said flanges having edgeportions, and ribs or tracks projecting from said end covers andengaging complementary grooves in said flanges and their edge portionsfor facilitating sliding of the end covers.

7. A display case for wrist watches, comprising a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shell-like end covers slidably mounted on said flanges andwhen moved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, said member and end covers being oftriangular shapes in transverse cross section, said flanges having edgeportions, and ribs or tracks projecting from said end covers andengaging complementary grooves in said flanges and their edge portionsfor facilitating sliding of the end covers, and means for preventingsaid covers coming oil said member while in their apart positions.

8. A display case for wrist watches, comprising a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shell-like end covers slidably mounted o-n said flanges andwhen moved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, said member and end covers being oftriangular shapes in transverse cross section, said flanges having edgeportions, and ribs or tracks projecting from said end covers andengaging complementary grooves in said flanges and their edge portionsfor facilitating sliding of the end covers, and means for preventingsaid covers coming off said member while in their apart positions,comprising pins mounted on said end covers and engageable with saidflanges.

9. A display case for wrist watches, comprising a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shell-like end covers slidably mounted on said flanges andwhen moved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, said member being hollow and having endwalls with openings therein.

10. A display case for wrist watches, comprising a member about which awrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said Wrist watch andband, shelllike end covers slidably mounted on said flanges and whenmoved together encasing said watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, and a leaf spring encircling said memberand upon which said wrist watch and band is intended to be mounted.

11. A display case for wrist watches, comprising a member about which aWrist watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly extending angesat its end portions extending out wards of said wrist watch and band,shell-like end covers slidablf,7 mounted on said anges and when movedtogether encasing said watch and band and when moved apart exposing saidWatch and band, and a leaf spring encircling said member and upon whichsaid Wrist watch and band is intended to be mounted, said leaf springbeing secured to said member at its center and having free end portions.

12. A display case for wrist watches, compris ing a member about which awrist Watch and band may be mounted and having outwardly ex tendingflanges at its end portions extending outwards of said wrist watch andband, and shelllike end covers slidably mounted on said anges and whenmoved together encasing said Watch and band and when moved apartexposing said watch and band, said member and end covers being ofthermo-plastic material at least said end covers being transparent, andribs or tracks projecting from said end covers and engagingcomplementary grooves in said member for facilitating the sliding of theend covers.

WILLIAM HELBEIN.

